Houston v GS has been very close. Every game. Neither team has been dominant. Both teams go on runs to get a lead. Then the other team does the same and makes things close.
All the pressure is on Houston to win game 6 at home.
I expect game 6 will be a nail biter. If Houston wins game 7 will be the same.
Whoever wins will have no time to rest because the WCF starts two days later.
@bronco2078 said:
I would like to boot Kyries useless ass right off the edge of this flat earth. He should never be allowed to wear a celtics uniform again.
I really hope that he makes that decision to leave before Ainge tries convincing him to stay. IT for Kyrie was the right move at the time but he's just a horrible fit with this team.
Kyrie is much better than IT but he has no heart and a gigantic ego , he is a cancer on the team. Kyrie is totally self absorbed and stupid and yet he thinks he is a genius
I hope the local media makes it so bad for him over the next month that he decides that 38M supermax isn't worth the aggravation playing here. Rozier & Brown hate the guy but Rozier is a FA too and the only way I see him returning,Morris too,is if Kyrie leaves.
I honestly want him elsewhere and see Ainge make no major moves other than drafting his picks and adding some better players off the bench. Let Brown & Tatum develop another year with Hayward & Horford and just go from there.
@DIMEMAN said:
I still say they are all playing to see who loses to the Warriors in the Finals.
Milwaukee still has to get by the Toronto-Philly winner but if one of these other teams left can do it I'd pick them. They just beatdown the Celtics pretty bad with great defense and shooters draining threes everywhere. They're starting lineup has two 7 footers, a 6-10 "small forward" and a 6-8 shooting guard. I think it would be one hell of a series.
@SanctionII I didn't see the game but that was a pretty impressive win in Houston with no Durant.
just catching up with the semis and I see the Bucks have ousted Boston. that isn't surprising but what is surprising to me is that after a good game one it really wasn't much of a series. that's strange after last year and when you consider much was expected form the Celtics. the talk was all about how they were loaded and had been positioned by Danny Ainge with drafts/trades to move past the Conference to another title, led by Brad Stevens who was being heralded as the next savior.
things got REAL very fast.
by my own admission I wasn't paying attention and half expected the big series to be Boston playing either the Raptors or 76'ers. so what went wrong in Boston???
another big question would be something I'd want to ask Kyrie Irving but I don't know how I'd phrase the question. in the NBA with only five starters and a Team total of 15 I believe the egos can really be a problem. in hindsight, would everything have been better and would the outcomes of everything have been different the past two years if Kyrie Irving and Lebron James had been able to work out their problems?? the actions of those two directly affected the Cavs, the Celtics and the Lakers. that subsequently affected the entire Eastern Conference playoff structure.
the take-away for me is that the actions of those two players underscores the leadership of Steve Kerr with the Warriors. it shows us all what a Team can do when the players can play for each other and the goal of the Team, swallowing their pride and learning a little Humility. I think the Golden State Warriors are on the cusp of accomplishing something really, really big. the question is can they stay together and find needed replacements as the older guys leave.
to my way of thinking the players must now be seriously thinking of making a run at the legacy of the great Boston Celtic Teams of the 50's and 60's. with a Championship this season(which now seem likely) they will have pushed past the Chicago Bulls of the 90's. the Warriors are indeed already one of the greatest Teams of all-time in the NBA and they aren't finished yet.
it may extend his career a few years. as for the Warriors, the current run extending for several more years may shorten the careers of those players, the upside being that their Legacies and assured HOFness will only be strengthened.
@keets A good portion of this Celtics team hated playing with Kyrie's ego and I'd say he deserves most of the blame for the Celtics not living up to expectations this season. He did arguably the worst job at trying to be a leader of a sports team that I've ever seen. He'd call out a teammate by name after a bad game or start talking about how these young Celtics players don't know a thing when it comes to being a winner in the NBA then it would blow up in the media here,there would be a team meeting airing it all out then they'd win a few games and all is great. Then after a couple bad games he'd do the same thing again and again all season and through it all he'd just keep telling everyone how great he is and he'll prove it come playoff time. Then when this team needed him to come through the most these past two weeks he was not only garbage but after every game he just kept telling everyone how great he was.
Since that game 5 loss to the Bucks everything is coming out now,Terry Rozier ripped into him without actually using the name Kyrie but we all know it was about him. Someone Kyrie confided in let it be known that Kyrie wasn't happy that the Celtics did so well without him in last season's playoff run and that has been a huge topic here since in local sports talk radio. I want no part of this guy going forward,he's not worth a supermax contract and let him go team up with Durant in NY if that's their big plan. If he couldn't hack it in Boston I doubt he'll be able to in NY.
ego is a part of all Pro Sports but seems to be magnified more so in basketball. it is strange because these guys should all be wanting to win, but it always comes down to one guy needing to be the Superman. while Irving was in Cleveland I maintained that absent the three point shooting he had a much better all-around game than Curry. I wouldn't say that now. maybe it's as simple as this --- Kyrie Irving needs to follow instead of lead, he can be a top player but not a Team leader.
I think these past two woeful years in Boston has proven that to everyone except maybe him. personally, I will be rooting for Durant to stay in Golden State to help the Warriors work towards more Championships. where Irving might land doesn't really matter, he will bring that franchise down. there's an old saying which applies with some of these Prima Donna athletes : Why don't you fix you and stay where you are instead of moving and screwing that place up??
I rooted for and defended him for this past year in debates with other C's fans on a local site and I was wrong about how good he & this team could be together. He missed alot of games this season and Boston looked like an entirely different team without him. It's hard to believe that just one player's demeanor could ruin an team's chemistry but it happened with him and his teammates are letting everyone know off the record. I just hope that the Celtics ownership and Danny Ainge are paying attention to all this. Ainge just had a mild heart attack during game 2 in Milwaukee so he might not be back on the job full time but I'm praying he doesn't start pandering to Kyrie about staying long term. He's probably one of the top 3-5 finishers at the basket that I've ever seen but overall was a horrible fit in this system. I gave the guy the benefit of the doubt all season while all the drama was happening because you could see & hear that he was really trying to be the leader of this team but unfortunately for him repeatedly talking about being a better leader doesn't make you a better leader. I have no ill will towards the guy but I just don't want to see him back here,I'd rather see the Celtics take another step back if it means their developing their young players like Tatum,Brown & a few others. Hopefully the C's front office feels the same.
look at where the ball is, then look at where Kawhi is on the court & and the position he's in. then imagine conducting an informal poll a quarter century from now.
"what is Kawhi Leonard doing here?"
trying to hold it in - 99.8%
reacting to his game-winning shot that hit the rim 4 times with no time left on the clock and the score tied in game 7 of a series against Philadelphia - .2%
@DIMEMAN said: @keets ....Golden State have just barely made a dent in what the the Bulls did in the 90's. Get real man.
IF the Warriors win it this year, they will have done something really special. Four out of five. In my opinion, that does not elevate them above the Bulls.
It will be interesting if they decide to keep the band together and go for more. If they win this year, and then get two more in a row, that would be 6 out of 7.
Edit to add: In my opinion, they would have to do at least that to be considered the greatest modern era dynasty.
Jordan's Bulls of the 1990's won 6 of 8 which is 75%.
If GS wins this year they would, IMO, be #3 on the GOAT list behind the Celtics and the Bulls. If they win this year and the next two years after that to go 6 of 7 they would move to #2 on the GOAT list.
He had me until he said try to keep Kyrie. He says they need a Kyrie level talent to win but we had him and did worse than without him . Opinion invalid , incidentally , half of local TV and sports radio whoever they are say the same crap. Enough of the punditry . TV and radio experts are like monkeys throwing darts level of competence . Fire every on air personality that says they should keep Kyrie. These are the type of people that said Trump was going down in a landslide. They don't have any insight at all they are just guessing . They collect paychecks but don't actually know any more about any subject than some idiot on a sports talk forum. Me for instance , I don't get paid to offer opinions, I don't talk to Kyrie's uncle Drew or his agent's best friend's cousin's roommate , I watch Kyrie play , he's gifted and a terrible teammate at the same time . We don't need to ask the oracle at Delphi, its naked eye visible. It more than cancels out his very real gift. The team is literally worse when he plays. Subtraction via addition watch any of this retards press conferences . He could not be more clueless about how to act. Its not tennis basketball is a team sport.
Ok Hayward didn't have a great season , it was awkward to watch him mostly , but we saw the video of his ankle breaking . What is Kyrie's excuse?
He had me until he said try to keep Kyrie. He says they need a Kyrie level talent to win but we had him and did worse than without him . Opinion invalid , incidentally , half of local TV and sports radio whoever they are say the same crap. Enough of the punditry . TV and radio experts are like monkeys throwing darts level of competence . Fire every on air personality that says they should keep Kyrie. These are the type of people that said Trump was going down in a landslide. They don't have any insight at all they are just guessing . They collect paychecks but don't actually know any more about any subject than some idiot on a sports talk forum. Me for instance , I don't get paid to offer opinions, I don't talk to Kyrie's uncle Drew or his agent's best friend's cousin's roommate , I watch Kyrie play , he's gifted and a terrible teammate at the same time . We don't need to ask the oracle at Delphi, its naked eye visible. It more than cancels out his very real gift. The team is literally worse when he plays. Subtraction via addition watch any of this retards press conferences . He could not be more clueless about how to act. Its not tennis basketball is a team sport.
Ok Hayward didn't have a great season , it was awkward to watch him mostly , but we saw the video of his ankle breaking . What is Kyrie's excuse?
I didn't give much attention to the keep Kyrie part,I think he was just trying to say that you need that type of talent to win titles. You'll get no argument from me about the local media here but his assessment on why this team crapped the bed this season was pretty spot on in my opinion.
On a sidenote,the NBA lottery is tonight and the C's have two picks that are in play. The Kings pick that they get anywhere that it lands outside of 1st overall and the Grizzlies pick if it lands anywhere after the 8th pick. Landing the 2nd & 9th would be great.
Disclaimer --- please let's not change gears and argue about James, I want to stay focused on Irving for now.
here is the riddle I can't figure out: Why wasn't Kyrie Irving willing to stay with the Cavaliers and allow Lebron James to help him realize his full potential?? for all the negative things we can say about Lebron it is a fact that he shared the ball and always had assists. also, when Lebron was out it was clear that Kyrie was in charge on the floor. he allowed James to be his mentor until the last 1-2 years when I believe he started to believe what his mind was telling him, that he could be the leader and needed a change to have "HIS" own Team. that is the perplexing thing about the NBA, there seem to be way too many Chiefs and not enough Indians.
perhaps Kyrie Irving has learned something these last two years and I hope someone can gain his confidence and allow him to get back to who he was 4-5 years ago. by comparison, I have always had a lot of respect for Klay Thompson with the Warriors. here's a guy on a Team loaded with talent and: he has a great outside shot that is sometimes lights out, he is a lockdown defender and he appears to not mind not being the center of what's going on, maybe the ultimate Team player. when you think of the Golden State Warriors the names that come up are Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Andre Iguadola and, Oh Yeah, there's this dude named Klay Thompson.
that is what Kyrie Irving should aspire to be and what he'll have to be if he wants another ring.
I think Kyrie had a good idea that Lebron was eventually leaving in free agency and he just wanted a fresh start elsewhere. Replacing Lebron as the guy in Cleveland would have been difficult role for any player and judging by the numerous times Kyrie had it out with the Boston media this past season,I doubt his ego could handle constantly being compared to Lebron had he stayed and Lebron left.
As for Klay Thompson,I think it went a long way having a father who was once the NBA's 1st overall pick and who played many different roles in a lengthy career teaching him how to be a professional athlete.
Eric, I agree with that and notice it in many athletes, Ken Griffey, jr. is the first to come to mind. I know you have an opinion about Terry Francona(I could have that wrong, you Boston guys confuse me ) but he seems to have benefited from being around the clubhouse as a child and having a good mentor in his father. there are countless other and I just wonder what happened with the Ball family??
Steph Curry is another one. I always thought Francona got a raw deal from the team,media & fanbase here on his way out the door. He led the team to two championships but only gets remembered for the "chicken & beer" days.
@keets said:
Disclaimer --- please let's not change gears and argue about James, I want to stay focused on Irving for now.
here is the riddle I can't figure out: Why wasn't Kyrie Irving willing to stay with the Cavaliers and allow Lebron James to help him realize his full potential?? for all the negative things we can say about Lebron it is a fact that he shared the ball and always had assists. also, when Lebron was out it was clear that Kyrie was in charge on the floor. he allowed James to be his mentor until the last 1-2 years when I believe he started to believe what his mind was telling him, that he could be the leader and needed a change to have "HIS" own Team. that is the perplexing thing about the NBA, there seem to be way too many Chiefs and not enough Indians.
perhaps Kyrie Irving has learned something these last two years and I hope someone can gain his confidence and allow him to get back to who he was 4-5 years ago. by comparison, I have always had a lot of respect for Klay Thompson with the Warriors. here's a guy on a Team loaded with talent and: he has a great outside shot that is sometimes lights out, he is a lockdown defender and he appears to not mind not being the center of what's going on, maybe the ultimate Team player. when you think of the Golden State Warriors the names that come up are Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Andre Iguadola and, Oh Yeah, there's this dude named Klay Thompson.
that is what Kyrie Irving should aspire to be and what he'll have to be if he wants another ring.
LeBron is different he backs up his crap. In fact after seeing the Kyrie show this year I am wondering if LeBron was driven to be a douche half the time by Kyrie being around. Why is it we are now hearing rumors that Kyrie was a total pill the whole time he was in Cleveland?
Was that talked about in Cleveland while he was there ? Or is it some random revisionist history spouted by sports pundits in the present?
that is a good take, Bronco, and probably not too much of a stretch. I think the worm turned when the Cavs won their Championship and Kyrie Irving had the off-season for that to settle around him. when the following year started he became increasingly unmanageable until the "trade" finally took place.
@keets said:
that is a good take, Bronco, and probably not too much of a stretch. I think the worm turned when the Cavs won their Championship and Kyrie Irving had the off-season for that to settle around him. when the following year started he became increasingly unmanageable until the "trade" finally took place.
There was this theory that Danny Ainge "stole" Kyrie from cleveland and "won" the trade
It only proves you have to wait a few years to see who really won a trade
@keets said:
that is a good take, Bronco, and probably not too much of a stretch. I think the worm turned when the Cavs won their Championship and Kyrie Irving had the off-season for that to settle around him. when the following year started he became increasingly unmanageable until the "trade" finally took place.
There was this theory that Danny Ainge "stole" Kyrie from cleveland and "won" the trade
It only proves you have to wait a few years to see who really won a trade
Isaiah Thomas has only played a total of 44 games since that trade and Ainge didn't make the colossal blunder of handing him a 30M/year contract. Even knowing how it would play out these past two seasons I'd make that trade 10 times out of 10.
@keets said:
that is a good take, Bronco, and probably not too much of a stretch. I think the worm turned when the Cavs won their Championship and Kyrie Irving had the off-season for that to settle around him. when the following year started he became increasingly unmanageable until the "trade" finally took place.
There was this theory that Danny Ainge "stole" Kyrie from cleveland and "won" the trade
It only proves you have to wait a few years to see who really won a trade
Isaiah Thomas has only played a total of 44 games since that trade and Ainge didn't make the colossal blunder of handing him a 30M/year contract. Even knowing how it would play out these past two seasons I'd make that trade 10 times out of 10.
@keets said:
that is a good take, Bronco, and probably not too much of a stretch. I think the worm turned when the Cavs won their Championship and Kyrie Irving had the off-season for that to settle around him. when the following year started he became increasingly unmanageable until the "trade" finally took place.
There was this theory that Danny Ainge "stole" Kyrie from cleveland and "won" the trade
It only proves you have to wait a few years to see who really won a trade
Isaiah Thomas has only played a total of 44 games since that trade and Ainge didn't make the colossal blunder of handing him a 30M/year contract. Even knowing how it would play out these past two seasons I'd make that trade 10 times out of 10.
Keets is right though , they both suck
Kyrie's value to Boston isn't out the window yet. Wherever he decides to play he'll be able to ask Ainge for a sign & trade so he gets all of his supermax and Boston gets a return for him.
I watched the GS Portland game last night with a friend.
The game lacked the intensity that existed in the GS Houston series. While Portland kept within striking distance until the early part of the fourth quarter, it just seemed that the outcome of the game was never in doubt.
I suspect part of this lack of intensity stems from Portland having two play about 48 hours after Game 7 in its series with Denver. Portland flew from Denver to the Bay Area either late Sunday or yesterday and to my understanding did not get to have any practice or shoot around before yesterday's game. GS also likely experienced an emotional letdown after the intense series against Houston.
I expect that Game 2 will be much more competitive.
I expect that Games 3 and 4 in Portland will be very entertaining. I hope Portland's two guards have a monster series.
Interesting the Damian Jones for the Warriors was activated for the game and played in the last two minutes of Game 1. He was starting at the 5 for GS until he suffered a torn pectoral in early December that caused him to miss the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs. He played fairly well prior to his injury and gave GS some flexibility at the 5 spot. Maybe he will see some minutes in the series with Portland. It would also be interesting to see both Durant and Cousins come back and play either in the Portland series or (if GS advances) in the NBA finals.
Comments
can't stay up for the 2nd half
if the Warriors play like that the rest of the postseason, they'll win another title. no one can hang with that type of play.
at least the officiating didn't suck for once
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
Great bounce back by the Bucks tonight. On to Boston.
GS played well tonight, winning game 2. The GS defense was very effective. Houston stayed close but could not get into rhythm.
Hopefully Harden's eye injury will heal in time for game 3.
not ready to give up on the Rockets quite yet
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
If Houston does not win Game 3, ...................................
..................... then que up Dandy Don Meredith to the microphone so he can regale us with his signature song.
I think you can que Dandy Don now.
Stick a fork in the Celtics,one more and they're done. That game will likely be Kyrie's last in Boston.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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hell of a game
best-of-3
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
the Rockets squandered a golden opportunity last night
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
Houston v GS has been very close. Every game. Neither team has been dominant. Both teams go on runs to get a lead. Then the other team does the same and makes things close.
All the pressure is on Houston to win game 6 at home.
I expect game 6 will be a nail biter. If Houston wins game 7 will be the same.
Whoever wins will have no time to rest because the WCF starts two days later.
I would like to boot Kyries useless ass right off the edge of this flat earth. He should never be allowed to wear a celtics uniform again.
I really hope that he makes that decision to leave before Ainge tries convincing him to stay. IT for Kyrie was the right move at the time but he's just a horrible fit with this team.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Kyrie is much better than IT but he has no heart and a gigantic ego , he is a cancer on the team. Kyrie is totally self absorbed and stupid and yet he thinks he is a genius
I hope the local media makes it so bad for him over the next month that he decides that 38M supermax isn't worth the aggravation playing here. Rozier & Brown hate the guy but Rozier is a FA too and the only way I see him returning,Morris too,is if Kyrie leaves.
I honestly want him elsewhere and see Ainge make no major moves other than drafting his picks and adding some better players off the bench. Let Brown & Tatum develop another year with Hayward & Horford and just go from there.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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Unexpected (but maybe not unexpected) win by GS in Game 6 at Houston tonight.
GS advances. Houston goes on vacation.
How will the WCF between GS and either Portland or Denver go?
Who will win Game 7 between Toronto and Philly to advance to the ECF to face the Bucks?
I still say they are all playing to see who loses to the Warriors in the Finals.
Milwaukee still has to get by the Toronto-Philly winner but if one of these other teams left can do it I'd pick them. They just beatdown the Celtics pretty bad with great defense and shooters draining threes everywhere. They're starting lineup has two 7 footers, a 6-10 "small forward" and a 6-8 shooting guard. I think it would be one hell of a series.
@SanctionII I didn't see the game but that was a pretty impressive win in Houston with no Durant.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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just catching up with the semis and I see the Bucks have ousted Boston. that isn't surprising but what is surprising to me is that after a good game one it really wasn't much of a series. that's strange after last year and when you consider much was expected form the Celtics. the talk was all about how they were loaded and had been positioned by Danny Ainge with drafts/trades to move past the Conference to another title, led by Brad Stevens who was being heralded as the next savior.
things got REAL very fast.
by my own admission I wasn't paying attention and half expected the big series to be Boston playing either the Raptors or 76'ers. so what went wrong in Boston???
another big question would be something I'd want to ask Kyrie Irving but I don't know how I'd phrase the question. in the NBA with only five starters and a Team total of 15 I believe the egos can really be a problem. in hindsight, would everything have been better and would the outcomes of everything have been different the past two years if Kyrie Irving and Lebron James had been able to work out their problems?? the actions of those two directly affected the Cavs, the Celtics and the Lakers. that subsequently affected the entire Eastern Conference playoff structure.
the take-away for me is that the actions of those two players underscores the leadership of Steve Kerr with the Warriors. it shows us all what a Team can do when the players can play for each other and the goal of the Team, swallowing their pride and learning a little Humility. I think the Golden State Warriors are on the cusp of accomplishing something really, really big. the question is can they stay together and find needed replacements as the older guys leave.
to my way of thinking the players must now be seriously thinking of making a run at the legacy of the great Boston Celtic Teams of the 50's and 60's. with a Championship this season(which now seem likely) they will have pushed past the Chicago Bulls of the 90's. the Warriors are indeed already one of the greatest Teams of all-time in the NBA and they aren't finished yet.
JMHO, of course.
As always a very good, insightful and informative post by Keets.
Had Irving and James stayed together and got along it would have been very interesting to see how Cleveland would have done this year and last year.
It is really strange not having James in the playoffs. I wonder how he is adjusting to having an extra 2 months off?
it may extend his career a few years. as for the Warriors, the current run extending for several more years may shorten the careers of those players, the upside being that their Legacies and assured HOFness will only be strengthened.
@keets A good portion of this Celtics team hated playing with Kyrie's ego and I'd say he deserves most of the blame for the Celtics not living up to expectations this season. He did arguably the worst job at trying to be a leader of a sports team that I've ever seen. He'd call out a teammate by name after a bad game or start talking about how these young Celtics players don't know a thing when it comes to being a winner in the NBA then it would blow up in the media here,there would be a team meeting airing it all out then they'd win a few games and all is great. Then after a couple bad games he'd do the same thing again and again all season and through it all he'd just keep telling everyone how great he is and he'll prove it come playoff time. Then when this team needed him to come through the most these past two weeks he was not only garbage but after every game he just kept telling everyone how great he was.
Since that game 5 loss to the Bucks everything is coming out now,Terry Rozier ripped into him without actually using the name Kyrie but we all know it was about him. Someone Kyrie confided in let it be known that Kyrie wasn't happy that the Celtics did so well without him in last season's playoff run and that has been a huge topic here since in local sports talk radio. I want no part of this guy going forward,he's not worth a supermax contract and let him go team up with Durant in NY if that's their big plan. If he couldn't hack it in Boston I doubt he'll be able to in NY.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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ego is a part of all Pro Sports but seems to be magnified more so in basketball. it is strange because these guys should all be wanting to win, but it always comes down to one guy needing to be the Superman. while Irving was in Cleveland I maintained that absent the three point shooting he had a much better all-around game than Curry. I wouldn't say that now. maybe it's as simple as this --- Kyrie Irving needs to follow instead of lead, he can be a top player but not a Team leader.
I think these past two woeful years in Boston has proven that to everyone except maybe him. personally, I will be rooting for Durant to stay in Golden State to help the Warriors work towards more Championships. where Irving might land doesn't really matter, he will bring that franchise down. there's an old saying which applies with some of these Prima Donna athletes : Why don't you fix you and stay where you are instead of moving and screwing that place up??
I rooted for and defended him for this past year in debates with other C's fans on a local site and I was wrong about how good he & this team could be together. He missed alot of games this season and Boston looked like an entirely different team without him. It's hard to believe that just one player's demeanor could ruin an team's chemistry but it happened with him and his teammates are letting everyone know off the record. I just hope that the Celtics ownership and Danny Ainge are paying attention to all this. Ainge just had a mild heart attack during game 2 in Milwaukee so he might not be back on the job full time but I'm praying he doesn't start pandering to Kyrie about staying long term. He's probably one of the top 3-5 finishers at the basket that I've ever seen but overall was a horrible fit in this system. I gave the guy the benefit of the doubt all season while all the drama was happening because you could see & hear that he was really trying to be the leader of this team but unfortunately for him repeatedly talking about being a better leader doesn't make you a better leader. I have no ill will towards the guy but I just don't want to see him back here,I'd rather see the Celtics take another step back if it means their developing their young players like Tatum,Brown & a few others. Hopefully the C's front office feels the same.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
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did anyone see that shot?
unfreakingreal
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
@keets ....Golden State have just barely made a dent in what the the Bulls did in the 90's. Get real man.
That was an INCREDIBLE shot to end a game 7. These conference finals should be very entertaining.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
I guess that's why the Raptors went after Leonard and whatever they paid him seems worth it right now.
Incredible shot by Leonard. Bucks - Raptors looks like an intriguing match up. I've got the Raptors.
Robb
Joel Embiid looks like he's that last guy on the Raptors bench trying to get a peek at the rim.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Great photo.
look at where the ball is, then look at where Kawhi is on the court & and the position he's in. then imagine conducting an informal poll a quarter century from now.
"what is Kawhi Leonard doing here?"
trying to hold it in - 99.8%
reacting to his game-winning shot that hit the rim 4 times with no time left on the clock and the score tied in game 7 of a series against Philadelphia - .2%
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
IF the Warriors win it this year, they will have done something really special. Four out of five. In my opinion, that does not elevate them above the Bulls.
It will be interesting if they decide to keep the band together and go for more. If they win this year, and then get two more in a row, that would be 6 out of 7.
Edit to add: In my opinion, they would have to do at least that to be considered the greatest modern era dynasty.
4 of 5 is 80%.
Jordan's Bulls of the 1990's won 6 of 8 which is 75%.
If GS wins this year they would, IMO, be #3 on the GOAT list behind the Celtics and the Bulls. If they win this year and the next two years after that to go 6 of 7 they would move to #2 on the GOAT list.
@keets here's a better assessment than my own above on why the Celtics were a huge letdown this season and why Kyrie deserved most of the blame.
https://weei.radio.com/blogs/rob-bradford/jeff-goodman-mut-callahan-kyrie-irving-deserves-more-lions-share-blame-celtics
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
He had me until he said try to keep Kyrie. He says they need a Kyrie level talent to win but we had him and did worse than without him . Opinion invalid , incidentally , half of local TV and sports radio whoever they are say the same crap. Enough of the punditry . TV and radio experts are like monkeys throwing darts level of competence . Fire every on air personality that says they should keep Kyrie. These are the type of people that said Trump was going down in a landslide. They don't have any insight at all they are just guessing . They collect paychecks but don't actually know any more about any subject than some idiot on a sports talk forum. Me for instance , I don't get paid to offer opinions, I don't talk to Kyrie's uncle Drew or his agent's best friend's cousin's roommate , I watch Kyrie play , he's gifted and a terrible teammate at the same time . We don't need to ask the oracle at Delphi, its naked eye visible. It more than cancels out his very real gift. The team is literally worse when he plays. Subtraction via addition watch any of this retards press conferences . He could not be more clueless about how to act. Its not tennis basketball is a team sport.
Ok Hayward didn't have a great season , it was awkward to watch him mostly , but we saw the video of his ankle breaking . What is Kyrie's excuse?
I didn't give much attention to the keep Kyrie part,I think he was just trying to say that you need that type of talent to win titles. You'll get no argument from me about the local media here but his assessment on why this team crapped the bed this season was pretty spot on in my opinion.
On a sidenote,the NBA lottery is tonight and the C's have two picks that are in play. The Kings pick that they get anywhere that it lands outside of 1st overall and the Grizzlies pick if it lands anywhere after the 8th pick. Landing the 2nd & 9th would be great.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Disclaimer --- please let's not change gears and argue about James, I want to stay focused on Irving for now.
here is the riddle I can't figure out: Why wasn't Kyrie Irving willing to stay with the Cavaliers and allow Lebron James to help him realize his full potential?? for all the negative things we can say about Lebron it is a fact that he shared the ball and always had assists. also, when Lebron was out it was clear that Kyrie was in charge on the floor. he allowed James to be his mentor until the last 1-2 years when I believe he started to believe what his mind was telling him, that he could be the leader and needed a change to have "HIS" own Team. that is the perplexing thing about the NBA, there seem to be way too many Chiefs and not enough Indians.
perhaps Kyrie Irving has learned something these last two years and I hope someone can gain his confidence and allow him to get back to who he was 4-5 years ago. by comparison, I have always had a lot of respect for Klay Thompson with the Warriors. here's a guy on a Team loaded with talent and: he has a great outside shot that is sometimes lights out, he is a lockdown defender and he appears to not mind not being the center of what's going on, maybe the ultimate Team player. when you think of the Golden State Warriors the names that come up are Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Andre Iguadola and, Oh Yeah, there's this dude named Klay Thompson.
that is what Kyrie Irving should aspire to be and what he'll have to be if he wants another ring.
I think Kyrie had a good idea that Lebron was eventually leaving in free agency and he just wanted a fresh start elsewhere. Replacing Lebron as the guy in Cleveland would have been difficult role for any player and judging by the numerous times Kyrie had it out with the Boston media this past season,I doubt his ego could handle constantly being compared to Lebron had he stayed and Lebron left.
As for Klay Thompson,I think it went a long way having a father who was once the NBA's 1st overall pick and who played many different roles in a lengthy career teaching him how to be a professional athlete.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Eric, I agree with that and notice it in many athletes, Ken Griffey, jr. is the first to come to mind. I know you have an opinion about Terry Francona(I could have that wrong, you Boston guys confuse me
) but he seems to have benefited from being around the clubhouse as a child and having a good mentor in his father. there are countless other and I just wonder what happened with the Ball family??
Steph Curry is another one. I always thought Francona got a raw deal from the team,media & fanbase here on his way out the door. He led the team to two championships but only gets remembered for the "chicken & beer" days.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
LeBron is different he backs up his crap. In fact after seeing the Kyrie show this year I am wondering if LeBron was driven to be a douche half the time by Kyrie being around. Why is it we are now hearing rumors that Kyrie was a total pill the whole time he was in Cleveland?
Was that talked about in Cleveland while he was there ? Or is it some random revisionist history spouted by sports pundits in the present?
that is a good take, Bronco, and probably not too much of a stretch. I think the worm turned when the Cavs won their Championship and Kyrie Irving had the off-season for that to settle around him. when the following year started he became increasingly unmanageable until the "trade" finally took place.
There was this theory that Danny Ainge "stole" Kyrie from cleveland and "won" the trade
It only proves you have to wait a few years to see who really won a trade
I think they both lost.
Isaiah Thomas has only played a total of 44 games since that trade and Ainge didn't make the colossal blunder of handing him a 30M/year contract. Even knowing how it would play out these past two seasons I'd make that trade 10 times out of 10.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
Keets is right though , they both suck
Kyrie's value to Boston isn't out the window yet. Wherever he decides to play he'll be able to ask Ainge for a sign & trade so he gets all of his supermax and Boston gets a return for him.
Eric
Erikthredd’s MJ Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/publishedset/395035
Erikthredd’s Nike Air Jordan Collection: https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/basketball/key-card-sets/nike-poster-cards-michael-jordan-1985-1992/alltimeset/408486
I watched the GS Portland game last night with a friend.
The game lacked the intensity that existed in the GS Houston series. While Portland kept within striking distance until the early part of the fourth quarter, it just seemed that the outcome of the game was never in doubt.
I suspect part of this lack of intensity stems from Portland having two play about 48 hours after Game 7 in its series with Denver. Portland flew from Denver to the Bay Area either late Sunday or yesterday and to my understanding did not get to have any practice or shoot around before yesterday's game. GS also likely experienced an emotional letdown after the intense series against Houston.
I expect that Game 2 will be much more competitive.
I expect that Games 3 and 4 in Portland will be very entertaining. I hope Portland's two guards have a monster series.
Interesting the Damian Jones for the Warriors was activated for the game and played in the last two minutes of Game 1. He was starting at the 5 for GS until he suffered a torn pectoral in early December that caused him to miss the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs. He played fairly well prior to his injury and gave GS some flexibility at the 5 spot. Maybe he will see some minutes in the series with Portland. It would also be interesting to see both Durant and Cousins come back and play either in the Portland series or (if GS advances) in the NBA finals.